seeley lake affordable housing crisis

seeley lake affordable housing crisis

Blog Article

A pretty town nestled in the heart of Montana's wilderness, Seeley Lake remains famous for breathtaking landscapes, outdoor recreation, and traditionally close-knit community. But like so many rural and resort towns across America, Seeley Lake is getting wracked by an increasingly troublesome housing crisis that may soon undermine everything that makes this place special. It is an easy but deceptively profound problem: housing is moving out of the range of affordability for local populations, and often ends up leaving residents unable to find homes.

This article looks at the cause behind the Seeley Lake affordable housing crisis, present-day implications for the community, and what might come around to help possibly fix the affordable housing crisis.

The Hard Reality of Affordable Housing in Seeley Lake:

The Seeley Lake Population is a small community of just under 2,000 people and is highly tourism-dependent with significant focuses on fishing, hiking, and camping. Its real beauty draws both seasonal tourists and long-term relocations by those who look for a slower, naturecentered lifestyle. For the most part though, its appeal has become an increasingly significant factor in the housing crunch.

A Rising Tide in Real Estate Prices:

The reason the area sees a large number of visitors for Seeley Lake and people who have shifted their homes to this place, particularly in the times of and after the COVID-19 scenario, is that demand has increased drastically in houses in that region. Therefore, it made property values hike. What used to be an affordable place to locals now becomes high in demand as vacation homes and investment properties.

Local real estate data reflects an appreciating trend for property values over the last few years. Since 2019, the median price in Seeley Lake has skyrocketed almost 50%, unaffordable to most residents within the community, especially those who work in low to mid-income jobs. This is a rather harsh imposition of increasing property value growth on long-time residents whose wages have remained stagnant while the value of their property had skyrocketed.

Limited Housing Inventory:

Probably one of the biggest villains culminating in the housing crisis at Seeley Lake is that it's just altogether too darn expensive. Because the town is so small, there simply aren't enough homes to begin with, and many of the ones that do are being purchased by people from other states, or even converted into vacation rentals for Airbnb.

They get flipped to short-term rentals. Long-term rental houses now significantly reduce the supply of housing available for local families and workers. Local employers-from supermarkets to health care providers-have been reporting it's challenging to hire and retain employees because the people in question cannot find affordable housing.

Rising Cost vs. Wage Stagnation:

While home prices have skyrocketed, salaries in Seeley Lake haven't even come close to seeing that kind of growth. Service-related businesses and tourism-related businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, and recreation-related businesses make up the local economy. Those places usually don't pay very much, so it's unlikely that any workers will be able to buy a home, and when you factor in the high cost of living, that problem is compounded.

Wages and housing costs have been the driving pusher placing people in precarious housing situations: renting shoddy housing, living with extended family members, or camping out in RVs during warmer months. For many, it seems the dream of homeownership in Seeley Lake is slipping farther and farther away.

Impact of the Housing Crisis on Community:

The housing crisis in Seeley Lake is economic, social, and cultural. It reshapes the community, affects quality of life, and increases the tension between long-time residents and newcomers.

Displacement of local families:

For longtime residents-most of whom are almost approaching a lifetime residency in Seeley Lake-it is becoming increasingly hard to stay in the town they called home. This is because rising housing prices accompanied by increased property taxes make it difficult for homeowners to keep up with what it costs to live in that town. In some cases, families are forced to sell their homes and relocate to cheaper areas outside Seeley Lake.

The displacement is most brutal on old-time residents and those with deep roots in the community. These long-standing families would invalidate the concept of continuity and identity that the town would hold, which has been taken over by a more floating population.

Strain on Local Businesses:

Local businesses, being the heart and soul of the Seeley Lake economy, are really taking it on the chin due to the housing crisis. Many employers cannot attract anyone to begin with because the cost of living locally would be prohibitive for employees. Restaurants, shops, and tourism-oriented businesses are especially hard hit since these businesses require a steady stream of employees during those busy summer months.

In the absence of affordable housing, employers are left to handle a better portion of turnover rates, staffing shortage, and the inability to be able to offer service to locals and tourists. This then again has an overall impact on the economic stability in Seeley Lake and its ability to prosper as a tourist destination.

Declining School Enrollment:

School enrollment decreases are yet another fruit of the housing crisis. When families disappear from a community, fewer kids are left at the neighborhood schools. Budget cutbacks and reductions to support to students can serve only to accelerate population declines at the student level and worsen what kind of quality education can be offered in Seeley Lake.

Local schools are crucial components in preserving the community character of the town. The decline of the school population not only hurts education but also depletes the sense of community and social order that schools enforce within small towns, such as Seeley Lake.

The Affordable Housing Crisis: Possible Solutions:

Furthermore, even during the affordable housing crisis in Seeley Lake, there is even possible solution which would help to once again restore living and working possibilities in the town. There have been initiated discussions on the local government, community organizations, and residents in solving the shortage of adequate affordable homes for the town.

Affordable Housing Development:

Probably, the best solution is to increase the supply of affordable houses. These may begin by constructing new housing units solely for low- and moderate-income families. This can be initiated by an agreement between developers and nonprofit groups to design and construct affordable housing projects as permanent, accessible housing for Seeley Lake's workforce.

Tax abatements and grants might be forthcoming to developers creating affordable housing, and zoning rules would need to be relaxed to allow higher density in some parts of town in order to make multi-family units or smaller homes feasible.

Short-Term Rental Regulations:

By establishing rules around short-term rentals- those shown on websites like Airbnb-the public will likely hold onto the available long-term rental housing in Seeley Lake. Local governments could establish statutes that cap the number of houses that can be converted into vacation rentals or require property owners to obtain special permits for short-term rentals, ensuring that at least a portion of the housing stock is actually reserved for full-time residents rather than getting eaten up by tourism.

Community land trusts:

Community land trusts would also be added as part of the affordable housing crisis solution alternative. A CLT is a nonprofit that acquires land and holds it for the benefit of local residents to be able to afford homes. Homes built on CLT land are sold at below-market prices, while the CLT retains ownership of the land, which means that the home is made sure to be kept affordable for generations.

A CLT in Seeley Lake would provide a permanently affordable pool of housing so that local families can continue to live in the locality, even as market prices continue rising.

Pooling and Advocacy:

It is acknowledged that a solution to the housing crisis will require cooperation across governments, businesses, and communities. Community advocacy provides a foundation from which to raise the profile of this issue and advocate policies supportive of efforts for affordable housing. Constituents have a role in taking steps forward on housing-related policies at the local, state, and even federal levels toward better serving the interests of low- and middle-income families.

Conclusion:

Long-term residents and workers, local businesses, and schools continue to face an increasing affordability crisis in Seeley Lake as housing prices escalate and fewer affordable homes become available. It's time for action. And so, with the following initiatives: affordable housing development, short-term rental regulations, and community land trusts, Seeley Lake is empowered to work through this crisis and retain its character and vitality as a small town-it deeply treasures.

This will require cooperation, innovative solutions, and a commitment to ensuring that Seeley Lake remains a place where everyone can live, work, and thrive if the town is going to survive the challenges facing it today about being affordable.